Mcintosh MC2205 lamp replacement

LoStrings

LoStrings

Active Member
I am in the process of getting my first piece of Mcintosh history...a MC2205 amp. It is in very nice condition, but has a few bulbs burnt out. I ordered a set of LED's for it, but I have never worked on one of these. I don't expect it to be that hard, but I would like some guidance. If someone here who has done this before can tell me where to start, I would really apprciate it.
 
Register to hide this ad
LoStrings said:
I am in the process of getting my first piece of Mcintosh history...a MC2205 amp. It is in very nice condition, but has a few bulbs burnt out. I ordered a set of LED's for it, but I have never worked on one of these. I don't expect it to be that hard, but I would like some guidance. If someone here who has done this before can tell me where to start, I would really apprciate it.
Click to expand...
get a copy of the service manual from hifi engine. carefully remove the faceplate screws, knobs and then faceplate. Replaces bulbs, assume you have similar voltage, reverse procedure and perhaps clean backside of faceplate.
 
You do not need to remove the glass to swap lamps on a Mc2205, just the top meter box cover.

1866 incandesent lamps are the correct replacement, I do not believe LEDs will fit thru the metal light box IF the have the correct light disbursement. They also are the wrong color temp. Splotches that might be in the traditional blue is caused by discoloration in the middle of three color filters.

The Normal lamps from the inside can be replaced by anyone who had the hand dexterity to replace the points in a Chrysler slant six......and about the same amount of space. You will need to solder these bipins in. If you drop one of the 5/16s nuts you will have more disassembly to do....just like if you dropped a screw into the Chrysler distributor.
 
Hello,

I have changed bulbs on mine this year. However, my front glass was removed and it was easier to change bulbs. You can change bulbs like c_dk suggests, but you must be careful.

If you are going to remove front glass, you will probably need new self adhesive sponge stripes. You can look at this post and look at posts with bulbs and front glass to see what you can expect once you start to remove parts.

Either way, be careful considering weight of amp and fragile glass, and try not to apply any excessive force on glass or glass frame.
 
Thank you all very much for your support. Can you tell me where I might pick up some of the sponge strips? Also, the light kit I ordered is coming with 8 soft white led bulbs with 6 blue filters for the VU's, 4 green led's for the controls, and 7 bi-wire bulbs...all for the MC-2205.
 
I wouldn't fit LED, I re-lamped my 2205 back in 2012, I sold the amp all lamps working last year, and then the customer wanted me to fit LED to it. I got one of those ebay kits, and what do you know, its coming back as several of them have failed in just over 12 months, not to mention it didn't look right to me....the incandescent's were still running fine.
I'd stick with incandescent.
 
LoStrings said:
Thank you all very much for your support. Can you tell me where I might pick up some of the sponge strips? Also, the light kit I ordered is coming with 8 soft white led bulbs with 6 blue filters for the VU's, 4 green led's for the controls, and 7 bi-wire bulbs...all for the MC-2205.
Click to expand...
You don't need to take the glass off to re-lamp a 2205...
 
Most of these these amps are now 40 years old...... a case could be made to spend 4, 5, 6 hours of a restoration techs time bringing them back up to the best look and sound.

For a owner new to McIntosh where do you stop?
 
Thanks to forum member #IvoCRO, I was able to change out all my bulbs. I went with a LED kit, and the finished product is fantastic. It turned out to be fairly easy, plus gratifying to say the least. I recommend anyone with a series two Mac, to go the LED route. One other thing I did to give it a fresher look, was I took off the bezel on the front glass. I think it gives it a more modern look, and it is reversible if you ever want to go back to the stock look.
 
So which LEDs fit within the factory cardboard tubes that shield the bulb and fit within the chassis? Does the supplier state the bulbs color tem to match the original Incandescents?
 
Last edited:
c_dk said:
So which LEDs fit within the factory cardboard tubes that shield the bulb and fit within the chassis? Does the supplier state the bulbs color tem to match the original Incandescents?
Click to expand...
The only cardboard was on the control lettering lights, but with the LED's there is no need for the cardboard. The supplier did not specify the color temp, but for the VU's, there are 8 warm whites that spread light at a wide angle just like the incandescent, which makes the VU's appearance look fantastic,and there are 4 green LED's (each LED has 5 LED's on them) which spread light giving the lettering a very bright presentation. I also changed out the 7 bi-wire bulbs. LED's really change the look over the stock incandescents, and should last a very long time.
 
I never had the bezel on my 2205 either, I think they have a cleaner more modern look without.

Sounds like you got a good kit there.....Lets see how it lasts, LED's aren't always a ticket for trouble free illumination, they do fail, just like incandescents...but if done right they can last a long time.
 
kevzep said:
I never had the bezel on my 2205 either, I think they have a cleaner more modern look without.

Sounds like you got a good kit there.....Lets see how it lasts, LED's aren't always a ticket for trouble free illumination, they do fail, just like incandescents...but if done right they can last a long time.
Click to expand...
Yes, the amp looks much more modern without the bezel. I hope this LED conversion holds up...it absolutely.looks fantastic, and gives the amp a new look.
 
HI,
Can anyone tell me if this bulb is good as a replacement for a MC 2255?
The light bulb to be replaced is for the "writing" on the panel, not the one in the vu meters.
Thanks a lot.
 

Attachments

  • lampadina mcintosh.jpg
    lampadina mcintosh.jpg
    3.9 KB · Views: 8
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom